Grain sepaeatoe machine



(No Model.) 5 5 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. H. WEBB.

GRJAIN summon MACHINE.

No. 515,542. Patented Feb. 27, 1894;

wm/wboz (No Model.) 2,8heets-Sheet 2.

W. H. WEBB. GRAIN SBPARATOR MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 27, 1894.

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WILLIAM H. when, on LoNeMoN'r, COLORADO.

GRAlN-SEPARATOR MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,542, dated February2'7, 1894.

Application filed May 11, 1893. Serial H0473 ,772. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. WEBB, a citizen of the United States,residing at Longmont, in the county of Boulder and State of Colorado,have invented a new and useful Grain-SeparatorMachine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to grain separator machines; and it has for itsobject to provide an improved machine of this character, which, whileparticularly adapted for the separation of green from ripe peas for'theconvenience of canning factories, at the same time is also adapted foruse as a grain separator for the separation of oats and barley and weedseeds from wheat, and other separations which will be hereinafterreferred to.

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is toprovide an improved separator machine which dispenses with the ordinarysieve and air currents and relies particularly upon the natural specificgravity of the elements to be separated from each other.

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter morefully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure l is a side elevation of aseparator constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is acentral vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is adetail sectional view on the line m-ac of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlargeddetail sectional view of a portion of one of the drag aprons. Fig. 5 isa detail sectional view showing the attachment of one of the perforatedelevator slats.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a suitable frame inwhich is supported the elongated tank B, having a central partition 0,which separates the tank into separate and independent vats D, and E,respectively, which vats are preferably designed to hold water havingsufficient salt in order to give it the desired degree of density, thedensity of the liquid in the two vats being of different degrees as willbe noted in connection with the devices employed in each vat, and itwill of course be understood that according to the nature and characterof the work required of the separator, the liquid in the separate vatswill of course be changed to suit the particular work.

Arranged over one end of the vat D, which may be termed the primary vat,is the feed box or hopper F, having at its lower end the feed opening f,controlled by the adjustable gate f, and leading from the box or hopperF, is the inclined feed chute G, which projects below the surface of theliquid in the primary vat in close proximity to the inclined elevatorapron H. The inclined elevator apron H, is made of suitable materialsuch as prepared canvas, rubber or wire cloth, and is provided with theperforated elevator slatsl, connected at their ends to the oppositeendless apron chains J, passing over suitably arranged sprocket wheelsK. The sprocket wheels K, of the apron H, are arranged inside of the vatD, near one lower corner thereof, and di- 1 rectly above one upper edgethereof, respectively, and the upper set of sprocket wheels K, aremounted on a suitable shaft in, driven by the drive sprocket wheel L, atone end of the shaft 70.

Assuming the separator to be employed in separating green and ripe peas,the liquid in the vat D, is of a proper density so as to allow the greenand ripe peas of their own specific gravity to be directed bytheinclined feed board G, onto the first elevator apron H, while at thesame time floating all trash and foreign matter. The trash and foreignmatter which is thus separated from the peas in the primary vat D, andis floated on the surface of the liquid in such vat, is skimmed 0d ofthe liquid by the horizontal endless drag apron M. The endless dragapron M, carries the opposite sprocket chains m, which pass oversuitably arranged sprocket wheels m", driven by means of suitablegearing, and arranged at the upper edge of the vat D, and said endlessdrag apron M, carries the pivoted drag blades N, which feather on thetop portion of the apron, and fall into a vertical position of their ownweight to drag the trash and foreign matter along the surface of theliquid up to the refuse apron O. The refuse apron O, is arranged at anincline above the elevator apron II, and has its inner end disposeddirectly under oneend of the horizontal drag apron M, and said refuseapron O, is carried on the end sprocket wheel 0, and is also providedwith the perforated elevator slats which slats as well as the slats I,of the apron H, allow the brine or liquid to settle back onto the apronand drip back into the vat, without being elevated together with thematerial on such aprons. The apron sprocket wheels 0, are mounted onsuitably arranged shafts journaled in the vat D, and in the frame abovethe shaft 71;, respectively, and the upper wheel shaft of said aproncarries the drivesprocket wheel 0', over which passes the drive sprocketchain 0 The drive sprocket chain 0 also passes over the sprocket wheelL, of the shaft 70, and is driven from the main drive wheel 0 suitablyarranged.

The refuse elevated by the apron O, is deposited from its upperdischarging end into the transverse conveyor box P, in which turns thescrew'conveyer p, which serves to carry the refuse to a point ofdeposit, while the green and ripe peas which are elevated by theinclined elevator apron H, are discharged from the upper end of suchapron onto the perforated inclined chute board Q. The perforatedinclined chute board Q, allows the liquid to drip back into the primaryvat D, and at the same time directs the green and ripe peas, together,into the liquid of the secondary vat E, which liquid is of a differentdegree of density from that contained in the vat D, and is of such adensity as to float all green peas, while the ripe peas of their ownspecific gravitysettle onto the lower separator apron R, and are furtherassisted to drop thereon by the inclined deflecting board 7'. The lowerseparator apron R, is arranged at an incline in the secondary vat E, andis constructed similar to the'aprons H and 0, previously described,being provided with the perforated elevator slats 'r, and passing overthe sprocket Wheels r arranged on shafts r journaled in the vat E, andat a point above the same, respectively, and the upper of the shafts rcarries at one end the large wheel S, over which passes the chain 3,leading from a sprocket wheel 3', mounted on the same shaft as the wheel0. Now as the elevator apron R, turns in the direction indicated by thearrow, the ripe peas which have settled thereon will be elevated out ofthe vat E, and over the upper end of the apron onto the perforateddischarge chute T,which is arranged underthe upper end of the apron R,at one upper end of the vat E, so that the liquid can drip back into thevat, while the chute T, being disposed at an angle, will lead the ripepeas to the point of discharge. The liquid in the vat E, floats thegreen peas, and such green peas are collected by the horizontal dragapron M. The horizontal drag apron M, is arranged at the upper edge ofthe vat E, adjacent to the board Q, and is similarly constructed inevery particular to the drag apron M, previously described, and the dragblades of the latter drag apron M, carry the green peas up to theinclined upper separator apron U. The upper inclined separator apron U,is arranged in the same relative position above the apron R, with itslower end in the vat E, as the apron O, is arranged with respect to theapron H, in the vat D, and the said apron U, is arranged on the sprocketwheels a, the upper ones of which are mounted on the shaftu, at one endof which is arranged the wheel 10 over which passes the chain 3, whichserves to communicate motion to both the lower and upperseparatoraprons, respectively, as may be clearly seen in the drawings. The upperseparator apron U, is also provided with the perforated elevator slats uwhich serve to elevate the green peasup and over the upper endof theapron U, and onto the perforated trough V. The perforated trough V, isarranged at an incline and discharges onto the short smooth apron W. Theshort smooth apron W, is suitably arranged at an incline, and whileallowing the good peas to roll over the same and onto the finaldischarge chute X, at the same time elevates all broken peas anddischarges the same over its inner end, so that such broken peas willdrop onto the chute T, and be discharged with the ripe peas.

Although I have set forth the herein de- I scribed separator as operatedin connection with the separation of green from ripe peas,

nevertheless it will be apparent that the same could be equally as welladapted for separating oats and barley and weed seeds from wheat, aswell as being adapted for wetting wheat, and also employing chemicals,such as vitriol in the vats for the purpose of preparing Wheat, while atthe same time providing for its separation from other foreignsubstances.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction asembraced within the scope of the appended claims,may be resorted towithout departing from the principle or sacrificing anyof the advantagesof this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a separator machine, the combination of a vat adapted to contain aliquid of a separating density, and separate superimposed elevatoraprons working in the vat, substantially as set forth.

2. In a separator machine, the combination of a vat adapted to contain aliquid of a separating density, separate superimposed inclined elevatoraprons having one end disposed-inthe vat to receive differentseparations, and a drag apron arranged adjacent to the lower end of oneof said aprons to feed floating matter thereto, substantially as setforth.

3. In a separator machine, the'combination of a vat or tank, adapted tocontain a liquid of a separating density, separate superimposed inclinedelevator aprons working in and above the liquid within the vat, a feedbox or trough arranged above the vat at one end and having an inclinedfeed chute projecting below the liquid of the vat in close proximity tothe submerged end of the lower one of the aprons, and a horizontal dragapron arranged above the vat and adapted to work on the surface of theliquid adjacent to the submerged end of the other elevator apron,substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine of the class described, sepa rate vats adapted tocontain separating liquids of difierent degrees of. density,superimposed elevator aprons arranged at an incline in one of the vatsand one of which aprons discharges the heavier separations from thefirst vat into the other vat, elevating devices arranged in said othervat, and afeed box or hopper substantially as set forth.

5. In a separator, separate vats adapted to hold separating liquids, theliquid of one vat being diiferent in density from that of the other vat,superimposed inclined elevator aprons having a portion thereof workingin the liquid of each vat to elevate matter of different specificgravity, and horizontal drag aprons arranged to feedfioating matter ontothe submerged ends of the upper aprons, substantially as set forth.

6. In a separator, the combination of a vat adapted to contain liquid,an inclined endless elevator apron. having the greater portion thereofWorking in the vat and leading from a point near its bottom, saidelevator apron having perforated elevator slats, a similar inclinedrefuse apron arranged above said inclined elevator apron and having itslower end working in the liquid of the vat and also provided withperforated elevator slats, a horizontal drag apron having drag bladestraveling at the surface of the liquid to feed floating matter onto therefuse apron, a conveyor arranged atthe upper end of the refuse apron,and an inclined feed chute arranged at one end of the vat, substantiallyas set forth.

7. In a separator, the combination of the separate liquid containingvats separated by a partition, a perforated inclined chute boardarranged at the top of said partition, elevator aprons working into oneof the vats, and one of said aprons discharging onto said inclined chuteboard, and corresponding elevator aprons arranged to partially Work inthe liq uid of the other one of said vats, substantially as set forth.

8. In a separator, the combination of separated vats adapted to containliquid, pairs of inclined elevator aprons having a portion thereofworking in each vat to elevate matter of difierent specific gravity,horizontal drag aprons arranged in close proximity to one of said apronsin each vat and having pivoted dragblades to feed floating matter ontothe apron adjacent thereto, and conveying devices arranged under theupper discharging end of each of said aprons, substantially as setforth. 9. In a separator, the combination of a vat adapted to contain aliquid, inclined endless separator aprons arranged one above the otherand having a portion thereof working in the liquid of said vat, both ofsaid aprons having perforated-elevator slats, a horizontal drag apronarranged at the top of the vat to feed floating matter onto the upperapron, perforated chutes or troughs arranged under the upper dischargingends of both of said aprons, a short smooth apron arranged at a pointhetweenbothofsaidperforatedchutesortroughs, and at an angle, and adischarge chute arranged nnder the lower outer end of said smooth apron,substantially as set forth.

10. The herein described method of separating peas and grains, whichconsists in subjecting the material to the separating action of liquidsof different degrees of density, successively, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. WEBB.

Witnesses:

GUY Jonnson, F. V. ANDREWS.

